Saturday, November 01, 2008

HUSON FAMILY MURDER TIMELINE

8-9 a.m.—A gunman fires through a door at singer-actress Jennifer Hudson's mother's home in the 7000 block of South Yale Avenue, striking the actress' brother, Jason, 29, and her mother, Darnell Donerson, 57. Neighbors said they heard the shots but did not call police.

3 p.m.—A family member walks into the home and discovers Donerson's body, then immediately leaves and calls police. Sources say Hudson's sister, Julia, went to police to report her 7-year-old son missing. Police found Hudson's body in a bedroom.

5:52 p.m.—Chicago police issue an Amber Alert for Julian King, 7. The alert names William Balfour, 27, who family members say was Julia Hudson's estranged husband, as a suspect in the slayings. Police say Julian may be with Balfour and ask people to call police if they see a white Chevrolet Suburban or a teal/green four-door Chrysler Concord.

6 p.m.—Police arrest William Balfour at his girlfriend's home on the Southwest Side, but the missing boy is not with him. Police take Balfour to a station to interview him. Authorities continue to search for the boy.

SATURDAY

1:30 a.m.—Jennifer Hudson identifies her brother and mother at the Cook County medical examiner's office.

At some point Saturday morning, the FBI is called in to help. Police say the teal vehicle has been located but continue to search for the white Suburban.

5 p.m.—Family members of the boy make a public plea for his return.

SUNDAY

1:06 a.m.—Jennifer Hudson appeals in her MySpace blog for help in finding Julian, her nephew.

Also Sunday—Balfour is transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections for violating his parole after he stopped cooperating with police in the investigation of the killings, authorities and law enforcement officials say.

11 a.m.—Around this time, Chicago police also begin distributing "High Risk Missing Child" alerts with a picture of Julian to businesses and residents near Hudson's family home in the area near 74th and Halsted Streets. Police, the FBI and residents continue to search.

7 p.m.—Jennifer Hudson offers a $100,000 reward for the return of Julian.

MONDAY

Reports start coming in that police had found a white Suburban with a body inside in the 1300 block of South Kolin Avenue.

8:30 a.m—Around this time, the Cook County medical examiner confirms that the body is that of a boy.

9 a.m.—The license plate of the Suburban matches the Amber Alert issued for 7-year-old Julian King. Police tow the vehicle. News outlets report that the child found inside is African-American.

1:30 p.m.—Law enforcement sources said that the body in the SUV was shot multiple times in the back of the vehicle. Police were testing the clothing of a man in custody for gunshot residue.

2:15 p.m.—Jennifer Hudson and family members are expected to go to the Cook County medical examiner's office by 3 p.m., according to a spokesman for the office. Hudson's security detail informed the office that a group would be headed there from a downtown hotel.

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Arlene Jones

EMAIL ME: WESTSIDE2DAY@YAHOO.COM

Arlene Jones' Biography

I was born in Chicago. I grew up in Cabrini Green. I attended Wells Sr High, the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle where I majored in Spanish and minored in Education. I have a diploma in Computer Programming.

I moved to Austin when I purchased a home here. I have two children.

I have been active in the community since moving here. I started with my blockclub. In the early 1990s, I worked with several people to try and form the North Austin Homeowners Association. I even went on patrol with a group of people who had a walkie talkie car patrol of the neighborhood.

As with most programs in the AA community, many factors led to the demise of those groups. Lack of support from elected officials was at the top of the list.

There were several people who had a group and we met out of DaVinci Manor. DaVinci Manor was at the corner of North Ave and Central where Walgreen now stands. Again there was very little interest in saving that building and our community lost a beautiful hall.

I have protested the state of the Central Ave bridge. I worked with Leola Spann and did many a smoke out including one in the 1500 block of North Lorel where drug paraphenalia layed on the ground. I have over the years here in Austin worked with the following groups at one point or another:
Northeast Austin Organization (Mary Volpe, Tom Hosea);
Northwest Austin Council;
Mad Dads;
Brotherhood of Black Men;
Westside Health Authority;
Nobel Neighbors;
Every Block A Village;
Beat 2532;
25th District Housing Committee;
WVON Volunteer;
African American Employees at the Merchandise Mart (AAEMM);
Lafollette Park Advisory Council;
Garfield Park Conservatory Advisory Council;
Westside Executive Advisory Council;
Austin Landmark Cultural Center;
Concerned Citizens of East Garfield Park

and so many others that it gets hard to remember.

Arlene Jones

QUOTE OF THE DAY

If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing. -- Malcolm X